Poultry-feeder.



WITNEEEEE G. K. `GILMI'I.'E. POULTRY FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED H3A;l 1912.

1,045,783, Patented Nov.26,1912.

INVENTCIR. @fm/Wi 4,7m m @9M DAQ @m M ATTDRNEY.

srars earner cierre GEORGE K. GILLETTE, OF CENTRAL VILLAGE, CONNECTICUT,ASSGNOR TO FRED W. MORSE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

POULTRY-FEEDER.

Specification or' Letters Patent.

iatented Nov, 26, 1912.

Application led February 8, 1912. Serial No. 676,474.

'- State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Poultry- Feeders, of which the following is aspecication.

My invention relates to poultry feeders, and particularly to that typewherein the grain is automatically fed to the poultry from time to time.

The essential objects of my invention are to prevent the clogging of thegrain in the feed receptacle, thereby insuring a continuous flow anduniform distribution of the grain andL a perfect control of the quantityof distribution; to vary and govern the area of distribution of thegrain in its discharge from the receptacle; to avoid the necessity ofthe use of gates, valves, and like devices;

` and to simplify and cheapen the entire construction of the apparatus.

To the above ends essentially my inven tion consists in such parts andin such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of thisspecitication,-Figure 1 is a front elevation of my feeder, Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same, Fig. 3, a section of a portion of the feedertakenin line ac 0c of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4, a detailed enlarged section ofthe shaft taken on line ma@ of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My device in its improved form of embodiment comprises a cylindricalreceptacle 5 for grain, having an interior inclined bottom or floor 6,and carying a suitable cover 7 of any preferred construction. Thereceptacle 5 provided at the lower part of its forward portion at thedeepest part of the receptacle with an oblong, horizontally disposedslot 8. The receptacle may be supported in any desired manner. In thepresent instance, angle arms 9 riveted to the rear of the receptaclenear its top and bottom are fixed by screws 11 or otherwise to portions12 of a building or other structure. Fixed by rivets 14 or otherwise tothe front of the receptacle is a vertically disposed bracket plate 15provided at its upper and lower ends respectively with bearings 16, 17,in which bearings is loosely mounted an operating shaft 19, providedwith a threaded upper end 20, carrying a nut 21, which rests upon theupper end face of the bearing 16. This nut is held in any adjustedposition upon the shaft 19 by a set screw 22, mounted in the nut. Theshaft 19 extends downwardly past the center of the opening S andterminates some distance below the receptacle. As shown in Figs. 3 and4, the shaft 19 at a point immediately opposite the open ing S isprovided with a transverse opening 24, in which is slidably mounted anarm 25, provided with a point 26. The arm 25 1s adjustable in theopening by means of a thumb screw 27, mounted in an openinO' 26 in theshaft 19 and contacting with the side of the arm. The pointed armextends normally some distance through the opening 8 in the receptacle,wherein its point travels in an are when the shaft 19 is rotated, andserves to separate the individual grains therein and prevent the samefrom clogging, and assists in impelling the grain outwardly through theopening 8. Hence, the grain falls by gravity upon the hemisphericaldeflector 29, provided with a central opening 30 to admit passagetherethrough of the shaft 19. The deiiector rests upon a nut 32 clampedby a set screw 33 to the shaft, and is held upon said nut by a secondnut 34 engaged to the shaft by a set screw It will be observed that byvirtue of the screws 33 and 35, the deflector may be movedlongitudinally upon the shaft and thus brought either nearer' to orfarther away fro-1n the opening S in the receptacle, thereby varying theangle and extent of distribution of the grain from the surface of thedeflector. It is found by experiment that the hemispherical shape of thedeiiector produces a more extensive distribtuion of grain than is thecase when a conical deflector is used. Fixed to the bottom of the shaft19 by nuts 37 and 39 or otherwise intermediate its length is a bait bar40 preferably of wood, provided with cavities 41, in which are fixedinterspaced grains of corn 42.

The operation of my device is as follows: The fowl approaches the baitbar 40 and pecks at one of the kernals 42, and in so doing imparts arotary movement to the bar and thence to the rotary shaft 19, whichimpels the pointed arm 25 to swing in an arc through the opening 8 andthe grain within the receptacle 5 thereby dislodging grains of thelatter which fall down upon and are scattered by the deflector 29, andwhen upon the ground are sought by the fowl. rIhe deflector 29 performsthe additional function of a fly wheel in this operation. It will beobserved that by virtue of the adjustable character of the arm 25 in ahorizontal plane, the point 26 is made to penetrate the grain anydesired distance in accordance with the character of the grain, andgoverns the quantity of grain to be discharged. lVIore than one arm maybe used if desired.

What I claim is,-

l. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a grain receptacle providedwith an opening, bearings upon the rec-eptacle, a shaft loosely mountedin the bearings and extending below the receptacle, an arm upon theshaft extending into the opening, a deflector upon the shaft below thearm, and a member upon the shaft below the deflector adapted to supportthe bait.

Q. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a receptacle provided with anopening in its side, supports upon the side of'the receptacle, a shaftrotatably mounted in the supports extending below the receptacle andnear the opening and transversely thereof, an arm in the shaft extendingwithin the opening, means for horizontally adjusting thel arm, adeflector mounted upon the shaft below the opening, and a member uponthe shaft below the deflector adapted to receive the bait.

3. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a receptacle provided with anopening in its side wall near its bottom, an inclined iioor in thereceptacle extending from a point below the opening upwardly, bearingsupon the side wall of the receptacle in vertical alinement with theopening, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearings and extending belowthe receptacle, an arm adjustably mounted for horizontal movement in theshaft extending into the opening, a deflector upon the shaft below theopening, and a bait bar upon the shaft below the deflector.

4L. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a receptacle provided withan oblong opening in its side, bearings upon the side of the reoeptacleashaft rotatably mounted in the bearings and extending past the opening,an arm mounted upon the shaft and provided with a point'extending withinthe opening, a deflector upon the shaft below the opening, and a baitbar upon the shaft below the deiiector.

5. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a receptacle provided with anopening in its side, bearings upon the side of the receptacle inalinement with the opening, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearingsand extending near the opening, an arm mounted upon the shaft extendingwithin the opening, a hemispherical deflector mounted upon the shaftbelow the opening, and a bait bar upon the shaft below'the deiiector.

6. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a receptacle provided with anopening in its side, bearings upon the side of the receptacle inalinement with the opening, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearingsnear the opening, an arm upon the shaft extending into the opening, Vadeflector mounted upon the shaft below theopening and longitudinallyadjustable upon the shaft, and a bait bar upon theshaft below thedefiector.

7. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a grain receptacle providedwith, an opening, bearings upon the receptacle, a shaft loosely mountedin the bearings and extending below the receptacle, an arm upon theshaft extending into the opening, a deflector upon the shaftbelow thearm, and a member below the deflector adapted to support the bait.

8. In a poultry feeder, the combination of a grain receptacle providedwith an opening, bearings upon the receptacle, an operating shaftrotatably mounted in the bearings, an arm upon the shaft extending intothe opening, and a bait member upon the shaft.

. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE K. GILLETTE.

Witnesses:

FRED W. PERKINS, FRANCES M. CORBIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C.

